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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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could have useful

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have useful" is not correct in English as it is incomplete and lacks context.
It can be used in a sentence where you want to express the potential usefulness of something, but it needs to be part of a larger structure. Example: "This tool could have useful applications in various industries."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

By forcing Greece to spruce up its incomplete land registry, speed could have useful wider effects.

News & Media

The Economist

A lawyer for the women argued that because Camille Cosby has been the TV star's wife and business manager, she could have useful information.

News & Media

The Guardian

Astley Joseph, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, added: "We believe it is important to rescue this rare breed because it could have useful drought-adapted genes that would benefit other herds on Antigua and elsewhere".

News & Media

The Guardian

The reason for very low prevalence should be investigated further because the discovery of bacterial or dietary factors that limit infection in this population could have useful public health applications.

These data could have useful application to detecting LipL21 antigen from leptospires infection.

RASSF1A methylation in serum could have useful clinical applications in neuroblastoma management, if our results are confirmed in larger studies.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The low value of fluoroscopy time suggests that CF sensing could have been useful to minimize the use of fluoroscopy to manipulate the catheter without affecting procedural safety.

Science

Europace

Comparison with responders could have given us useful information.

Although using the average of a series of years could have been useful if detailed data were available, the number of cases reported in 2009 was close to the averages for 2006 2010 (44,879 cases) and 2001 2010 (37,866 cases).

All these exercises could have been useful for WorldCom.

News & Media

The New York Times

This, in turn, could have a useful knock-on effect.

News & Media

The Economist
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for grammatical precision, prefer using the corrected forms "could be useful" or "could have been useful" instead of "could have useful".

Common error

Avoid using "have" directly before adjectives like "useful". Instead, use a linking verb like "be" to correctly connect the subject with the adjective. Saying "could be useful" is grammatically correct.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have useful" attempts to express a conditional possibility of being helpful. However, it is grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI identifies this as an incorrect construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "could have useful" appears in various sources, including news and scientific articles, Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically incorrect. It attempts to convey the potential usefulness of something, but it should be replaced with grammatically correct alternatives such as "could be useful" or "could have been useful" to ensure clarity and precision in writing. Using these alternatives will enhance the credibility and effectiveness of your communication.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "could have useful"?

The phrase "could have useful" is grammatically incorrect. Correct alternatives include "could be useful" (present/future potential) and "could have been useful" (past potential).

What does "could have been useful" mean?

"Could have been useful" implies that something had the potential to be helpful or beneficial in the past, but it may not have been utilized or the opportunity has passed.

Is "could be useful" the same as "might be useful"?

Yes, "could be useful" and "might be useful" are very similar in meaning. Both express a possibility that something will be helpful or beneficial. The difference in strength of the possibility is negligible.

In what situations should I use "could be useful"?

Use "could be useful" when discussing potential future benefits or when assessing the possible utility of something in a hypothetical situation. For instance, "This tool could be useful in streamlining the workflow."

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Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: